BACKSTAGE PASS/ A behind-the-scenes glimpse into the magic behind the

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Dec 7, 2003 by Bill Reed, Robin A. Rothman, Jen Mulson, Mark Arnest

Dorothy learned the lesson in "The Wizard of Oz":

When you peel back the curtain to see how the wizardry really works, you risk disappointment.

But in looking into what it took to stage Kenny Rogers' concert at the Colorado Springs World Arena on Wednesday, The Gazette's entertainment staff discovered there still was plenty of magic to be found - often in the most unexpected places.

It was in the hammock of the wireless sound worker, who slung his nap spot under the stage.

It was in the roadies, who looked for showers wherever they could find them.

It was in the worker who had to frantically restock the women's room toilet paper in the middle of the concert.

Kenny Rogers, 65, was the star of a Christmas concert. But the more than 350 workers who tinkered behind the scenes were the ones who starred in the hidden show, the real extravaganza.

5:30 a.m. - Executive chef Carmen Callo, in starched blinding- white uniform, throws the light switch in the kitchen. Breakfast prep begins for Kenny's people.

8 a.m. - At the loading dock, the World Arena's crew of about 30 waits in the slanting December light for the Kenny Rogers show setup to start. Kenny's caravan - four trucks full of gear and six buses - is late after an allnight drive from Rapid City, S.D.

8:40 a.m. - One of Kenny's drivers admits they're lost and calls arena executive assistant Claudean Brooks. Brooks phones them in: "You'll see a Safeway on your right. Go right."

In the kitchen, breakfast is put on hold.

8:53 a.m. - The caravan arrives. Kenny's roadies start checking the stage, taking measurements necessary to set the lights and sound.

The inside of the arena feels like a refrigerator as the roadies, few wearing coats and gloves, go to work. Even though the ice is covered with inch-thick pieces of Homasote Ice Deck, it's still an ice rink.

9 a.m. - Fresh popcorn aroma wafts from the kitchen. About 15 30- gallon bags are being popped for the concession stands.

9:12 a.m. - The forklift raises the first of dozens of metal crates - some the size of a small Manhattan apartment - onto the stage.

9:37 a.m. - David Kobernuss, who's handling Kenny's wireless sound, unpacks his coffee maker and the hammock he usually hangs under the stage. "That way I can leisurely hang around my area," he says.

10:35 a.m. - The first of four lighting racks begins its ascent to the arena rafters.

Noon - Kenny and his manager go to KCCY studios on South Circle Drive to record some promos: "This is Kenny Rogers. Listen to the best in country music on KCCY."

3:30 p.m. - Backstage, a security guard stands outside the room closest to the stage entrance - Kenny's dressing room - "to keep unauthorized people from bugging him for photos or autographs." When Cher was in town in September, this was her wig room.

Inside, seamstress Connie Espander blocks the doorway with a rack, an ironing board and a steam machine. Kenny's wardrobe case is wide open, and Espander pulls out one piece at a time to dewrinkle.

In the back of the room, a stack of pictures and scrapbooks await Kenny's autograph.

3:31 p.m. - The kitchen begins preparing many dinners: A private Acordia Christmas party for 96 in the Wigand Room; 90 or so in the members-only Penrose Club; 50 or so in a private KKCS hors d'oeuvres reception in the Sky Lounge; 84 at a catered party at the Penrose House; a 5 p.m. supper for the crew; and snacks and drinks in every dressing area.

On the menus are carved Virginia ham, grilled salmon, imported cheeses, parsley potatoes, roasted chicken, new potatoes and an array of desserts. There's also a vegan meal for one of the backstage crew.

3:40 p.m. - A phone rings at the reception desk.

"I have a songwriter on the line and he has some songs he wants to drop off for Kenny," the receptionist says, holding back a laugh.

3:45 p.m. - Sharon de Araujo, general manager of Centerplate, the new catering company at the arena, pauses to check the rider, the contracted food/snack specifics for everyone in the show: Lots of Atkins bars, Evian water, "throatcoat tea," a can of Nestle's Quik, fresh fruit, Starbucks Frappuccino, Lipton tea bags, Slim-Fast, beer, M&Ms plain and peanut, and 10 pounds of Iams mini-chunks dog food. Oops, hold the Iams, the bus driver's little buddy still has some from the last 10-pound bag.

3:50 p.m. - The requested 12-year-old Glenlivet scotch and Drambuie are dropped off at the catering office. "They want wine instead," an employee tells de Araujo.

4:12 p.m. - Assistant arena manager Tuesday Heslop grabs a cart and heads to the loading dock to pick up merchandise - glossy pictures, CDs, T-shirts, books and DVDs.

4:25 p.m. - Kenny's sweats come out of the dryer in the arena's catering offices. In go his beige bedsheets.

4:31 p.m. - Kenny's personal assistant and bodyguard, who goes by T-Ray, appears on the loading dock with boxes of merchandise. He hopes he can move $10,000 to $11,000 of "merch."

4:32 p.m. - Seamstress Espander asks for tape, lots of tape. The artificial snow from last night's show still has static electricity. She needs to get it off Kenny's charcoal blazer and black jacket.